Expanding Life — Saving NCD Care in Africa: The PEN-Plus Initiative Abuja, Nigeria – July 21, 2026 In a significant public health development, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has prioritized expanding equitable, high-quality care for severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across the African Region.
The focus is on implementing the PEN — Plus strategy, which aims to decentralize life-saving services and strengthen health system capacity to ensure timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and continuity of care for young people living with severe NCDs.
The Regional Committee for Africa endorsed PEN — Plus in 2022 as a critical regional strategy to enhance district and first-level referral hospitals’ability to deliver comprehensive services for conditions such as sickle cell disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and rheumatic heart disease. Building on this, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, with support from The Leona M. And Harry B.
Helmsley Charitable Trust, launched a three — year project in 2023 to implement PEN-Plus in 20 priority countries.
The Burden of NCDs in Africa Severe NCDs are a significant driver of preventable illness and death in the African Region, disproportionately affecting children, adolescents, and young adults in poor, rural, and underserved communities. Limited access to specialized care often results in untreated conditions, exacerbating the health crisis.
The PEN — Plus Approach Africa is taking a leadership role in developing and implementing the PEN-Plus healthcare model, designed to bring specialized care closer to underserved populations. This approach has the potential to bridge the gap between primary care and specialized hospitals, particularly in low-resource settings. Impact and Challenges Since its introduction in 2019, the PEN-Plus model has made a notable impact, reducing NCD-related deaths by over 2.
8 million in the WHO African Region.
However, challenges remain, including the need for sustainable funding and addressing varying economic conditions across Africa. Future Outlook The sustainability of the PEN-Plus model is a topic of ongoing discussion. Experts are closely monitoring its effectiveness in improving health outcomes for individuals with NCDs in rural areas and its long-term viability under diverse economic circumstances.
As the PEN — Plus initiative continues to expand its reach, it remains a beacon of hope for millions in Africa suffering from severe NCDs.
The journey towards accessible, quality healthcare for all is far from over, but initiatives like PEN — Plus are critical steps in the right direction.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africa Health
